Experimental Gingivitis in Patients With Altered Passive Eruption

Altered passive eruption (APE) is an anatomical condition that is frequently diagnosed in periodontal clinical practice, especially for the ever-increasing demand of patients for the aesthetic improvement of their smile. In addition to its aesthetic value, however, altered passive eruption could also affect gingival and periodontal health. In fact, in the case of plaque accumulation, the altered passive eruption (APE) is likely to be a predisposing factor for a more rapid progression of gingivitis with higher inflammation indexes (Angulated Bleeding Score - AngBs and Modified Gingival Index - mGI). Notwithstanding, even if gingivitis in patients with altered passive eruption is developed much more rapidly, thorough home oral hygiene and plaque control conduces to complete clinical recovery. Further studies with a large number of patients are required to confirm the correlation between altered passive eruption and periodontal diseases.